Euro area unemployment at 8.7%

The FINANCIAL -- The euro area (EA19) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 8.7% in November 2017, down from 8.8% in October 2017 and from 9.8% in November 2016.

This is the lowest rate recorded in the euro area since January 2009. The EU28 unemployment rate was 7.3% in November 2017, down from 7.4% in October 2017 and from 8.3% in November 2016. This is the lowest rate recorded in the EU28 since October 2008. These figures are published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

Eurostat estimates that 18.116 million men and women in the EU28, of whom 14.263 million in the euro area, were unemployed in November 2017. Compared with October 2017, the number of persons unemployed decreased by 155 000 in the EU28 and by 107 000 in the euro area. Compared with November 2016, unemployment fell by 2.133 million in the EU28 and by 1.561 million in the euro area.

Member States

Among the Member States, the lowest unemployment rates in November 2017 were recorded in the Czech Republic (2.5%), Malta and Germany (both 3.6%). The highest unemployment rates were observed in Greece (20.5% in September 2017) and Spain (16.7%).

Compared with a year ago, the unemployment rate fell in all Member States for which data is comparable over time. The largest decreases were registered in Greece (from 23.2% to 20.5% between September 2016 and September 2017), Portugal (from 10.5% to 8.2%), Croatia (from 12.5% to 10.4%) and Cyprus (from 13.1% to 11.0%).

In November 2017, the unemployment rate in the United States was 4.1%, stable compared to October 2017 and down from 4.6% in November 2016.

Youth unemployment

In November 2017, 3.698 million young persons (under 25) were unemployed in the EU28, of whom 2.624 million were in the euro area. Compared with November 2016, youth unemployment decreased by 429 000 in the EU28 and by 286 000 in the euro area. In November 2017, the youth unemployment rate was 16.2% in the EU28 and 18.2% in the euro area, compared with 18.2% and 20.5% respectively in November 2016. In November 2017, the lowest rates were observed in the Czech Republic (5.0%) and Germany (6.6%), while the highest were recorded in Greece (39.5% in September 2017), Spain (37.9%) and Italy (32.7%).